How many views does it take for a video to go viral?

There is no surefire way to know exactly what will resonate with the public, but we can look to past successes for clues. Videos that go viral tend to have a few things in common: They feature relatable protagonists, capture some sort of universal truth, and are often funny.

The word “viral” has become almost synonymous with videos on social media; from the “cucumber challenge” to pet tricks and even weird optical illusions. A video only goes viral, however, when it is something people want to share with their friends. Viral videos are those that people want to watch again and again. They are unignorable.

Viral videos usually have one of three things in common: a relatable protagonist, a universal truth or something funny (often a combination of all three). The more of these boxes you can tick in your video, the more likely you are to achieve success.

A video doesn’t need millions of views to go viral.

Before we start looking at what characteristics a video needs to go viral, it’s important to note that you don’t need millions of views to have a successful viral video. Viral videos are measured by the number of times they are shared, not how many times they are viewed.

That said, viral numbers are incredibly difficult to achieve. Some of the biggest brands in the world spend millions of dollars on their videos and still only achieve a modest number of views. If you want your video to go viral, you’ve got to be realistic.

So how do you know when your video has reached “viral” status? The general rule is that a video goes viral when it has amassed 1,000,000 views. This may seem like a lot, but keep in mind that your video will be competing for attention with millions of others.

What are the characteristics of a video that will go Viral?

Let’s take a look at some of the qualities that make a video more likely to go viral and inspire viewers to share.

• Relatable protagonists - People like to see themselves in the things they watch, so try to pick a protagonist that the public can relate to. This doesn’t have to be the literal protagonist—it could be a sidekick, a supporting character, or even an animal. This will help the audience feel connected to the content, driving them to share it with their friends.
• Universal truths - Whether it’s a social or political issue, or even just a slice of life, video is a great platform to explore the things that we all have in common, regardless of our differences.
• Something funny - People love to laugh, and humor is one of the easiest ways to get people to share your video. This can be slapstick, silly, or even insightful—any kind of humor that people can appreciate is likely to inspire shares.

5 videos that went Viral in 2016

1. “Chewbacca mom” - There is no doubt that this video went viral: it was shared over 16 million times. What started with a mom trying to calm her baby with a toy lightsaber, quickly turned into a surprise hit with the introduction of Chewbacca. This video not only featured a relatable protagonist (a mom trying to soothe her child), but also a universal truth (that laughter and silliness can help you deal with the stress of everyday life). It also had a ton of funny. Chewbacca mom is a perfect example of a video that went viral.
2. “Mannequin challenge” - This cultural phenomenon has been in the news for months, and shows no signs of waning in popularity. This challenge is all about a group of people staying still for the duration of a song and then uploading the video to social media. The mannequin challenge has gone viral several times over, mostly because it’s a unique concept that can be applied to almost any situation.
3. “The dress” - This viral sensation asked us to consider whether a dress was blue and black, or white and gold. This optical illusion sparked a fierce debate, and an even fiercer response to share the video. This is a perfect example of a video that combines humor, a universal truth and a relatable protagonist.
4. “Harlem shake” - This was another video that took the internet by storm in 2016. The Harlem shake is a catchy tune that can be accompanied by any video the creator chooses. The Harlem shake was a perfect example of a video that combined a relatable protagonist (the dancers), with a universal truth (dancing is fun), and plenty of humor.
5. “Trump googles himself” - It’s important to remember that even political figures can go viral. This video imagines a situation wherein Donald Trump, an avid Twitter user, searches for himself on Google. This is a perfect example of a video that combines a relatable protagonist (Trump), with a universal truth (that the internet is a powerful tool), and plenty of humor.

4 videos that went Viral in 2017 (and what we can learn from them)

1. “Hidden figures” - This is a true story that chronicles the lives of African-American women who worked at NASA during the Space Race. This story featuring relatable protagonists was both inspiring and historic. “Hidden figures” was the perfect example of a video that went viral.
2. “Ed Sheeran x shrek” - This was a mash-up video that combined Ed Sheeran’s hit song “Shape of you” with an animated scene from “Shrek”. This video combined a relatable protagonist (Shrek), with a universal truth (that all things are connected), and plenty of humor. “Ed Sheeran x shrek” was the perfect example of a video that went viral.
3. “Cash me outside how bow dah” - This was a video that featured a girl who became famous for rapping outside a venue. This video combined a relatable protagonist (the girl who raps), with a universal truth (that talent is beautiful), and plenty of humor. “Cash me outside how bow dah” was the perfect example of a video that went viral.
4. “The vinesauce net neutrality Christmas album” - This was an album of Christmas songs that satirized internet memes. This video combined a relatable protagonist (the internet), with a universal truth (that the internet is an important part of our culture), and plenty of humor. “The vinesauce net neutrality Christmas album” was the perfect example of a video that went viral.

There is no one recipe for a viral video, but there are certain ingredients that go into viral success. A video will go viral if it resonates with its audience and inspires them to share it with their friends.

Keep these ingredients in mind when creating your next video, and you may be surprised at how viral it goes. You may even become famous!